Frank Lampard fumes at lack of reaction in ‘eye-opening’ Everton defeat at Southampton

Everton’s extended their winless run away from Goodison Park to 10 games as they lost 2-0 to Southampton on Saturday.

After the match, manager Frank Lampard has fumed at his players for their lack of reaction during tough parts of the games that have gone against them.

Despite heading to the south coast high on confidence following last week’s 3-0 drubbing of Leeds United, Everton weren’t at the races as goals from Stuart Armstrong and Shane Long handed Southampton all three points.

The Toffees were second best throughout the contest and failed to register any attempts on Fraser Forster’s goal.

Everton are now only four points above the relegation zone with three tough fixtures coming up in Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves.

“We stopped trying to play”

The 2-0 loss at Southampton means Everton haven’t won away from home since the triumph over Brighton & Hove Albion in August and their away form is one of the main factors to why they are down at the bottom of the Premier League.

Speaking to the press after the game, Lampard said on the defeat: “The great stuff we’ve had at Goodison…we haven’t seen in the away games.

“When things turn against us, we didn’t have the reaction I would want.

“We stopped trying to play, We reverted to longer balls and didn’t try to beat their press and get round the back with our passing.

“Today was eye-opening in the second half. It’s important the players are good in moments at Goodison but also in moments in adversity.”

It’s now two wins and two defeats since Lampard was appointed as Rafa Benitez’s successor – both wins have been at Goodison Park and both defeats away.

But the Everton boss has urged his players to keep their heads up and reassured his belief for the future.

“I’m focused on the job in hand,” the 43-year-old said.

“We must have a belief in what we’re doing. There was never going to be a magic wand.”

“We have addressed a lot of things in terms of the way we want to play and the confidence. I saw thing today I didn’t like.

“At the moment, we have to stay together, as a club. I have a real confidence we will get better because we have quality and we have a good group of people.”